February 2023 Chamber Connection

CONNECTION

2022 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Kennedy’s Custom Jewelers

Kennedy’s Custom Jewelers has been a leading jeweler in Eastern Jackson County going on 40 years. Their mission is “to provide simply exceptional service, and to give back to the community that has given so much to us”. Kennedy’s donates over $50,000 a year in cash and in-kind donations to local non-profits. Trisha currently serves on the Rotary Board and Rainbow Center Board, and has served on the board of the Chamber, Downtown Alive, and Blue Springs Education Foundation. Congratulations to Kennedy’s Custom Jewelers!

2022 NOT FOR PROFIT OF THE YEAR Job One

Job One’s mission is to build skills and connections that create employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Job One is the most programmatically diverse organization of its kind in the state. In 2022 they served approximately 400 individuals seeking employment or community connection. Their Summer Work Experience Program had a record year with 40 students and for the first time in 55 years, Job One hosted its first-ever fundraiser, Cause-ino Night, in April. Congratulations to Job One!

2022 OUTSTANDING CITIZEN

Debbie Reiss-Roam

Debbie was nominated by the Blue Springs Rotary Club because she is a change agent, has made an impact on the community and exemplifies the standards of integrity, care and professionalism. Debbie has made numerous contributions to Blue Springs and the greater community. She has served through the Blue Springs Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, her church and several boards for the City of Grain Valley and the Grain Valley School District. Congratulations to Debbie Reiss-Roam!

MEMBER RENEWALS

Community Choice Pediatrics

Southern Jackson County Fire Protection District

St. John LaLande Catholic School

Mossy Oak Properties of the Heartland

United Methodist Church of Ressurection

Blue Springs Farmers Market

The Emerald Event Space

All In Physical Therapy

Saint Luke’s East Hospital

Blue Springs Marine

Kansas City Managed IT

Bill & Pam Wrisinger

Spring Oak Property Management

Blue Springs Dental

Hampton Inn Kansas City/Blue Springs

Tidal Wave Auto Spa of Blue Springs

BerganKDV

Blue Springs Baseball

Blue Springs Christian Church

Hy-Vee Food & Drug Store

Kona Ice

Raymond James Financial Services - Steve Heggs

Wild Souls Wildlife Rescue Rehabilitation

NEW MEMBERS

C&S Electric

(816) 832-6037

339 NW 12th Street

Blue Springs, MO, MO 64015

cselectricpros.com

Shelly D. Robinson Insurance Agency, LLC

(816) 423-4009

1208 W Main St

Blue Springs, MO 64015

Email Shelly

Josh Bodner State Farm Agency

(816) 224-6560

1201A NW Jefferson St

Blue Springs, MO 64015

GRAYt Marketing & Business Services

(816) 438-2222

1920 SW Keystone Dr Blue Springs, MO 64014

grayt-marketing.com

Calibrated Products, Inc.

(816) 220-9898

604 SW 10th Street

Blue Springs, MO 64015

calibratedproductsinc.com

During the month of March, we will be promoting Chamber membership through a “Membership Madness” campaign. We encourage you to invite a new guest to each event and help us spread Chamber magic! All month long non-members can attend member events at member pricing.

Join us for a Membership Madness Coffee Kick Off on Thursday, March 2 @ 7:30 am in the Chamber office to learn more and bring a friend!

For every business you refer that joins during the month of March you get one entry into a drawing for $500!

UPCOMING EVENTS

FEBRUARY 2

Chamber Champions

8:30 am @ Chamber Office

After Hours Networking

4:30-6 pm @ Pints N Play

REGISTER HERE

FEBRUARY 16

Monthly Luncheon

“Binding Us Together: A Civil Rights Activist Reflects on a Lifetime of Community and Public Service.”

11:30 am - 1:00 pm

@ Adams Pointe Conference Center REGISTER HERE

FEBRUARY 23

Meet Me For Lunch

11:30 am @ Sinclairs

REGISTER HERE

JANUARY 24

Chamber 101

12:00 pm @ Chamber Office

REGISTER HERE

FEBRUARY 3

Legislative Breakfast

7:30 - 8:30 am

@ Adams Pointe Golf Club

REGISTER HERE

FEBRUARY 7

Lunch & Learn

“Meet Your Community Leaders”

11:45 am - 1:00 pm

@ CJCFPD Training Facility

REGISTER HERE

FEBRUARY 8

Board Meeting

8:15 am @ Chamber Office

FEBRUARY 10

Legislative Affairs Task Force

7:30 am @ Sandy’s Restaurant

REGISTER HERE

Sponsored by BV Strategic Solutions

Mayor Carson Ross will interview Alvin Brooks, a noted Kansas Citian, about his remarkable career and life, and his autobiography Binding Us Together: A Civil Rights Activist Reflects on a Lifetime of Community and Public Service.

Sponsored by Cosentino’s Catering

Join us to to learn how the Chamber of Commerce can help you and your business/organization. All members welcome to attend.

FEBRUARY 28

Joint Chamber Legislative Advocacy Day at the Capital

7:00 am - 7:00 pm @ Missouri

Captial Building

REGISTER HERE

MEET A MEMBER

David Ewan, DeVine Catering & Events

Chef David Ewan is owner of DeVine Catering & Events and has over thirty-four years in the food and beverage industry. His strong Jamaican roots inspire his love of home-cooked food with a gourmet and international flare. While working his way up in a restaurant he won a scholarship to the United States to pursue a career in hotel and restaurant management. After three years in the United States, he returned to Jamaica with his Associate’s Degree in Hotel/ Restaurant Management. Five years later while managing four restaurants in Jamaica, he was still feeling a strong desire to get in the kitchen, so he returned and was privileged to be taught by some of the finest Certified Master Chefs and Certified Executive Chefs in the world at schoolcraft college in Michigan.

Chef David Ewan ewandavid825@gmail.com devinecateringkc.com

Chef David’s passion is for cooking gourmet food and the people he cooks for. “I have strict culinary values that include using the freshest ingredients that are cooked with the purest intentions of satisfying my clients appetite. My customers can expect to experience impeccable customer service that keeps them coming back for more.”

Chef David is married to Nakeeba Ewan and they have five children; two girls and three boys. The Ewan family resides in Blue Springs and are proud to be of Christian background. David’s hobbies include going to the movies, reading as well as playing and watching sports.

MEMBER NEWS

Frogs Give Back is a program that Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More of Independence implements to support charities, non-profits, and specific community events. For the month of February, 2023 Big Frog Custom T-Shirts of Independence will set aside $1.00 for every garment or equivalent that is sold in the month of February. At the end of the month the amount of money collected is handed over to the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce!

Meyer Music was awarded the Distinguished Award at the 85th Annual Missouri Music Educator Association Conference, the Missouri American String Teachers Association on Friday, January 27. Congratulations Meyer Music!

Rod’s Sports has outgrown their Blue Springs location and is now open in Grain Valley. Their new location offers twice the space and they are excited to be able to house a brand new automated screen printing machine. You can find them at 1520 SW Eagles Parkway, Grain Valley MO 64029. www.RodsSports.com

Sinclair’s Restaurant was recognized as one of The 8 Best Lunch Spots in Missouri on BestThingsMo.com. They were praised for their daily specials & fresh ingredients. Read the article.

“We thrive on excellence and the sky is the limit!” - David Ewan

Cost:

Attendees are responsible for their own transportation.

The following meetings have been confirmed:

Co-Hosted by: Please

Missouri Chamber of Commerce & Industry -

Dan Mehan

Missouri Division of Tourism - Stephen

Foutes, Director

MoDOT - Ed Hassinger, Deputy Director/Chief Engineer

Representative Jonathan Patterson, Republican Majority Floor Leader

Senator Denny Hoskins, Education & Workforce Development Committee

Additional Meetings will be added as they are confirmed.

Each Chamber will also meet individually with their area elected officials.

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cody Raithel- Chairman of the Board Central Bank of the Midwest

Michael Scott - Secretary/Treasurer The Table

Chad Smith - Past Chairman

Chad Smith State Farm Insurance

Ashish Patel - Business Support and Promotion

Hampton Inn Kansas City/Blue Springs

Jeff Carpenter - Membership Events & Services Job One

Erika Lucas - Leadership & Community Development Sandy’s Restaurant

Bobby Olm-Shipman Saint Luke’s East Hospital

Carman Booker Bank 21

Dr. Thomas Meyer MCC - Blue River

Jason Norbury City of Blue Springs

Jenny Callaghan

Katie Woolf Blue Springs R-IV School District

Kirk Lair

Central Jackson County Fire Protection District

Lisa LaCombe

NextGen Realty Trailhead Group

Lorne Meinershagen Meinershagen & Co.

Melodie Chrisman

Community Services League Blue Springs

Travis Hunt New York Life Insurance

Warren Goessling Kohl’s Distribution Center

Vanessa Starke

Starke Law Offices, LLC

2021

2022 PARTNERS CHAMBER STAFF

TIER ONE

Jackson County Tow Service

Saint Luke’s East Hospital

St. Mary’s Medical Center

TIER TWO

Evergy

Santa Fe Tow Service

TIER THREE

Abundant Life

Anthem Photography Bank 21

Blue Ridge Bank & Trust Co.

Central Bank of the Midwest

Chad Smith State Farm Insurance

Cosentinos Price Chopper

Los Cabos Mexican Grill & Cantina

McCarthy Blue Springs Hyundai

MCC - Blue River

Zarda Bar-B-Q

TIER FOUR

Equity Bank

First American Title

Greco Agency Farmers Insurance

Kansas City Cannabis

Miller 8 Theatres

Print Graphics

HyVee

Sandy’s Restaurant

CPro’s

TIER FIVE

Job One

Lies Trash

Lara Vermillion President lvermillion@bluespringschamber.com

Trish Totta Vice President ttotta@bluespringschamber.com

Rose Hall Events Coordinator rhall@bluespringschamber.com

Becca Blake Communications Specialist bblake@bluespringschamber.com

Mikayla Lavelle Administrative Assitant mlavelle@bluespringschamber.com

2023 Sponsorships are now available. Contact Becca at bblake@bluespringschamber.com for more information.